South Florida fishing report

February 16, 2012|By Steve Waters, Staff Writer

Fishing report

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Flipping plastic creature baits in thick vegetation and pitching plastic worms around reeds have been the best bets for bass given the cooler water temperatures. Another option is to fish crankbaits around rockpiles in the rim canal around Clewiston.

EVERGLADES/FRESHWATER

Bass were biting plastic stick worms in the canals connected to Lake Ida and shaky head jigs around the bridges. Bedding bass were biting on the flats off the L-67A Canal.

SOUTH FLORIDA INSHORE

Capt. Dave Kostyo reported awesome tarpon fishing at night around Haulover Inlet. Alexander Schmieder, of Germany, went 8 for 10 on tarpon 30-80 pounds Tuesday. Capt. Rick Stanczyk of Bud N' Mary's Marina in Islamorada has been catching good numbers of snook and lots of redfish and pompano in Florida Bay.

SOUTH FLORIDA OFFSHORE

Dolphin have been the best bet and they've been biting anywhere from 100-750 feet. Capt. Mario Cote of No Vacansea said to just troll where you see birds. Thursday morning he had three dolphin and a small tuna in 250 feet off Hallandale Beach. Yvan Tardif, of Montreal, caught five dolphin, three big skipjack tunas and two blackfin tunas in 500 feet off Hollywood Tuesday afternoon.

KEYS

Richard Stanczyk of Bud N' Mary's Marina in Islamorada said offshore fishing has been "a little bit of this, a little bit of that." Capt. Paul Ross of Relentless had one of the better catches this week with six mutton snappers up to 17 pounds and several big kingfish in 130 feet by Tennessee Reef. Charter boats also had a handful of sailfish and some amberjacks and blackfin tunas at the humps. Yellowtail fishing has been tough because the water has been clear.